The Devil Finds Work

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James BALDWIN: The Devil Finds Work (Hardcover, 1976, M Joseph)

Hardcover, 128 pages

Published Sept. 6, 1976 by M Joseph.

ISBN:
978-0-7181-1553-1
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3 stars (1 review)

Baldwin’s personal reflections on movies gathered here in a book-length essay are also a probing appraisal of American racial politics. Offering an incisive look at racism in American movies and a vision of America’s self-delusions and deceptions, Baldwin challenges the underlying assumptions in such films as In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and The Exorcist. Here are our loves and hates, biases and cruelties, fears and ignorance reflected by the films that have entertained us and shaped our consciousness. And here too is the stunning prose of a writer whose passion never diminished his struggle for equality, justice, and social change.

7 editions

reviewed The Devil Finds Work by James Baldwin

Review of "The Devil Finds Work"

3 stars

Baldwin makes some very good points on the connections between Hollywood and racism, and specifically the portrayal of African-Americans in cinema throughout the years. However, the book shows its age pretty clearly when one doesn't recognize more than half the referenced films, and the only ones recognized outside of "The Exorcist" were known after having discussed them in class. This book is a good read for film enjoyers, but a tough read to complete without Wikipedia constantly in hand trying to catch all the references.